African & West Asian Cultural Retail Space Jihan Just Opened in Paris
The space brings African and West Asian brands together with a cultural programme spanning film, music and publishing.
Egyptian creatives Mariam El Gendy and Youssef El Sayed have launched Jihan, a concept store dedicated to African and West Asian design in Paris.
Located in Le Marais, the space brings together fashion, jewellery, beauty, accessories and homeware from across both regions. Its inaugural chapter features brands including Super Yaya, Renaissance Renaissance, Paria Farzaneh, Rescha, Kotn and Kaia Olive Oil.
Jihan is also conceived as a cultural programme alongside its retail offering. The space will host screenings, reading rooms, listening sessions and conversations that bring together creatives, researchers and audiences interested in the region’s cultural landscapes. Its opening programme includes a film screening with SHASHA Movies, a reading room developed with HIKMA, and a residency by STORM Books.
The concept reflects the backgrounds of its founders. El Gendy, a photographer and creative, and El Sayed, whose work spans branding and cultural strategy, have spent years working across creative communities in Africa and West Asia. With Jihan, they have created a physical space that connects designers, writers, researchers and audiences.
The platform has also committed five percent of its profits to organisations supporting women’s economic independence. For its first chapter, Jihan is partnering with Egypt’s Misr El Kheir Foundation to support women artisans through training programmes and economic opportunities.
